Phelps goes 3 for 3 at nationals with another strong swim

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Michael Phelps made it 3 for 3 at the U.S. national championships, winning the 200-meter individual medley Sunday night with another time that would have been good enough for a world title.

Phelps was under world-record pace through the first three laps, but he struggled a bit on the freestyle leg to touch in 1 minute, 54.75 seconds — 0.75 off the mark set in 2011 by American rival Ryan Lochte.

Still, it was easily the fastest time in the world this year, more than second faster than Lochte's winning time of 1:55.81 at the world championships in Kazan, Russia.

Phelps cruised through the 100 and 200 butterfly the two previous nights in San Antonio, putting up the fastest times in those events since high-tech bodysuits were banned after the 2009 worlds.

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Phelps goes 3 for 3 at nationals with another strong swim

MESA, AZ - APRIL 16: Michael Phelps talks with a basket girl after winning the 100m Butterfly Final on day two of the Arena Pro Swim Series at the Skyline Aquatic Center on April 16, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

MESA, AZ - APRIL 15: Michael Phelps warms up before day one of the Arena Pro Swim Series at the Skyline Aquatic Center on April 15, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

MESA, AZ - APRIL 16: Michael Phelps (right) and Tim Phillips (left) get out of the pool after competing in the 100m Butterfly Prelim during day two of the Arena Pro Swim Series at the Skyline Aquatic Center on April 16, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

MESA, AZ - APRIL 24: Michael Phelps competes in the Men's 100m Butterfly final during day one of the Arena Grand Prix at the Skyline Aquatic Center on April 24, 2014 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

MESA, AZ - APRIL 24: Michael Phelps competes in the Men's 100m Butterfly Prelim during day one of the Arena Grand Prix at the Skyline Aquatic Center on April 24, 2014 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

US swimmer Michael Phelps (L) chats with children of the Rocinha shantytown by the pool of the favela's sport complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on March 11, 2013. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)

US swimmer Michael Phelps shares the morning with kids of the Alemao shantytown, at the sport complex of the favela in Rio de Janeiro, on October 30, 2012. Phelps arrived in Brazil to take part in a series of activities related to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Michael Phelps, left, laughs with Ryan Lochte, right, before they compete against each other in the men's 100-meter backstroke at the Bulldog Grand Slam swim meet at the University of Georgia, Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Athens, Ga. Phelps won the event and Lochte took second place. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Michael Phelps speaks to the media after practice, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Mesa, Ariz. Phelps is competing in the Arena Grand Prix at Mesa on Thursday as he returns to competitive swimming after a nearly two-year retirement. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Michael Phelps prepares to practice, Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in Mesa, Ariz. Phelps is competing in the Arena Grand Prix at Mesa as he returns to competitive swimming after a nearly two-year retirement. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps arrives to appear in court December 19, 2014 in his home state of Maryland, for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding at the John R. Hargrove, Sr. District Court Building in Baltimore, Maryland. The 18-time gold medalist swimmer was arrested on September 30,2014 and was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines. Lawyers specializing in DUI cases doubted Phelps would do jail time, given how no accident occurred and that a decade has elapsed since his last offence. 'He's probably looking at a suspended jail sentence,' Scott Richman, who has prosecuted hundreds of DUI cases, told the Baltimore Sun newspaper. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

US swimmer Matthews Grevers (L), Michael Phelps (C) and Brendan Hansen react after they won gold in the men's 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages)

(L-R) US swimmers Matthews Grevers, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Adrian Nathan pose on the podium after winning gold in the men's 4x100 medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages)